That’s a question that we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. Necessity is the case in most circumstances. My case is no different… You see, I’ve been appointed to this role by a Higher Power. That is to say, Iโve become aware of my purpose and direction in life. My internal dialogue screams, โItโs about time,โ but I know that I would not possess the will and drive to use my God-given talents had they not been tempered in the heat of despair.
I am a Coach… I became a coach because no one was there to teach my son. 20 years later and partially disabled, it’s my profession, Iโm pretty darn good at it, and itโs the only thing that I have left. The last part of that statement might seem a little hard to swallow, but I never thought that I would find a place in society where I could become a part of the solution rather than the problem. Iโll spare you the sappy details about watching young fledglings head off to college and talking to them out of the blue. Of course that happens and it is nice. Honestly, that is not why I coach today. I coach because I am good at what I do, and it might make a difference in someone’s life. The desire to care for others, in spite of your own interests, is the ultimate transformative experience as a human being. That experience is “Why” I coach. The game of football is bound to the ebb and flow of life, as with anything else; I think I will catch a wave and ride this one out to the end.ย
I am a Creator. Iโve always been attracted to art, music, poetry, culture, food and theatrics. Aside from singing in the choir, this was a carefully hidden character trait until I finally left high school. Long story short, some crazy guy that married my cousin noticed some potential in me. So, he took this misguided thug and taught him how to cook like a french chef. I can cook my tail off, so I got that goin for me (in my best Bill Murry accent). Speaking of hidden character traits, I decided to randomly obtain my GED at the age of 29. In doing so, I learned that I have a real knack for communication and the literary arts. Although I did obtain some real artistic building skills, I guess that all of those years of hard labor were quite optional in the end. The existence of this blog represents the fact that I am trying my hand at writing… God, please help me hold my tongue. Also, I am actually excited to start a youtube channel to showcase some cooking, vlogging, art work, and coaching videos. Again “Why”, is the pertinent question here? The answer is, because I have found the greatest challenges and most rewarding accomplishments in placing myself out there in front of the world, in spite of my own fears and insecurities. I am going to continue to try new things and share them because itโs fun, and I am actually still discovering what my talents are. I really hope that other people get something out of it.
I am a Community Advocate and Collaborator. Itโs not that I am an inherently virtuous person. It’s not even that I have really great ideas, or that I know a lot of influential people either. Itโs that I have lost the ability to observe society with apathy. Understanding that we are all a part of and subject to the human condition, leaves me with a profound desire to do something, anything, to improve said condition. This became abundantly clear to me at the point when I was faced with my own mortalityโฆ Long story short, it is extremely important that the remaining time I have left on this planet is spent in accordance with my intended purpose in this life. The trick is, I still have no clear answer as to what that purpose is. All I know is that it involves bringing good people together with other good people in spite of my own position. Why must I do this, you may ask? The answer is, It also became abundantly clear to me that the root cause of suffering in our world is the inability of human beings to care enough for other human beings. Understand, I am not saying that I have an answer to all of societyโs ills, I am merely saying that I have an answer to โWhyโ I feel like I have to do this. God willing, my efforts will not go in vain.
I won’t be overtly spiritual in my posts from now on. Heck, I may even question my own faith from time to time. But if I am to be up front and honest with my audience, This is the place that I am coming from right now…